Kamis, 21 November 2019
Ambassador Sondland gives bombshell testimony, contenders face off at Dem debate - ABC News
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eedctAHZzg8
2019-11-21 09:05:31Z
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Prince Andrew steps back from royal duties - CNN
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--equPjoDOE
2019-11-21 09:05:39Z
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Beijing vents fury at Washington over Hong Kong Human Rights Act - CNN
Though the bill has yet to go before US President Donald Trump for consideration, China wasted little time in condemning the vote, with the state-owned People's Daily describing it as "a piece of waste paper," and a "serious provocation against the entire Chinese people" in an editorial published Thursday.
"If the US side goes its own way, China will take effective measures to resolutely counteract it, and all consequences must be fully borne by the US," the editorial said.
The potential showdown risks undermining ongoing trade talks between Washington and Beijing during a critical juncture. Trump, who has yet to confirm whether he will sign the act, has so far appeared reticent to challenge China on the issue of Hong Kong, even promising Chinese President Xi Jinping in October that the US would remain silent on the city's ongoing pro-democracy protests while trade talks continued.
The US government treats semi-autonomous Hong Kong, which has its own legal and political systems, differently from the Chinese mainland when it comes to trade and export controls. Should it become law, the Hong Kong Act would require the US government to annually confirm that those freedoms were being maintained by Beijing -- failure to do so could result in Washington withdrawing the city's special trading status, a massive blow to the Hong Kong economy.
Additionally, the bill also lays out a process for the President to impose sanctions and travel restrictions on those who are found to be knowingly responsible for arbitrary detention, torture, forced confession of any individual in Hong Kong, or other violations of internationally recognized human rights in the Asian financial hub.
'Violation of international law'
The legislation, which is aimed at safeguarding freedoms in Hong Kong, comes as protests in the city near their sixth month.
Chinese state-run media has been ramping up its criticism of the Hong Kong protests as the demonstrations have grown increasingly violent in recent weeks, even as momentum has sped up for the legislation in Washington.
Writing in his daily newsletter, Sinocism, China expert Bill Bishop, said that state television CCTV had 11 segments criticizing the US and the legislation during its evening news on Wednesday night.
State-run tabloid the Global Times said instead of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, it should be called the "Support Hong Kong Violence Act."
The Chinese government has repeatedly called on the US to stop "interfering" in their internal affairs, even accusing Washington repeatedly of being partially behind the lengthy demonstrations in Hong Kong.
Speaking in Beijing on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang called the bill a "serious violation of international law" and said the Chinese government opposed and condemned it.
"I'd like to stress once again that Hong Kong is part of China, and Hong Kong affairs are China's internal affairs. We urge the US to grasp the situation, stop its wrongdoing before it's too late, and immediately take measures to prevent this act from becoming law," he said.
The legislation has already passed the US Senate in its current form, meaning it now heads to the White House for President Trump's signature. But despite the strong support in the US Congress, there is no indication at this stage whether or not Trump will sign it.
https://www.cnn.com/2019/11/21/asia/china-us-hong-kong-act-intl-hnk/index.html
2019-11-21 06:17:00Z
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Rabu, 20 November 2019
Sondland testimony targets Trump, Pompeo and confirms deal with Ukraine - NBC News
WASHINGTON — Gordon Sondland, the American ambassador to the E.U., is pointing the finger at President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and former national security adviser John Bolton in explosive public testimony on Wednesday in which he says explicitly that there was a "quid quo pro" linking a White House visit by Ukraine's president to investigations into a political opponent of the president.
Under fire from all sides after multiple witnesses contradicted his earlier deposition, Sondland blames everyone but himself for the pressure campaign on Ukraine now driving impeachment proceedings against Trump. He showed up for his televised hearing with reams of new text messages and emails he said prove the highest levels of the White House and the State Department were in on it.
"They knew what we were doing and why," Sondland plans to tell the House Intelligence Committee, according to his opening statement obtained by NBC News. "Everyone was in the loop. It was no secret."
Nov. 18, 201914:54
He says he knows that House members have asked "was there a quid pro quo," adding that when it comes to the White House meeting sought by Ukraine's leader, "The answer is yes."
Sondland also draws Pompeo more deeply into the effort than has previously been known, including emails to the secretary and a top aide in which the basic contours of the quid pro quo alleged by Democrats seem clear.
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At the time, the Trump administration had frozen military aid to Ukraine. On Aug. 11, Sondland emailed top Pompeo aide Lisa Kenna that he and former Ukraine envoy Kurt Volker "negotiated a statement" for Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, to deliver. Kenna responds saying she's passing the message along to Pompeo.
Eleven days later, Sondland wrote Pompeo directly, suggesting Zelenskiy meet Trump in Warsaw "to look him in the eye" and say he should be able to proceed on issues important to Trump "once Ukraine's new justice folks are in place." Earlier, in a July 25 phone call, Zelenskiy had told Trump that installing his own prosecutors would remove an obstacle to opening the investigations of the Bidens and the 2016 election.
"Hopefully, that will break the logjam," Sondland wrote.
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"Yes," Pompeo responded three minutes later. Kenna followed up saying she would try to arrange the meeting. Ultimately, Trump sent Vice President Mike Pence to Warsaw instead.
Further implicating Pompeo, Sondland plans to testify that it was "based on my communications with Secretary Pompeo" that he felt comfortable telling a top Zelenskiy aide the funds likely wouldn't be unfrozen until Ukraine committed publicly to the investigations sought by Trump. Those included probes into former Vice President Joe Biden's family and alleged Ukrainian meddling in the 2016 election.
"State Department was fully supportive of our engagement in Ukraine affairs, and was aware that a commitment to investigations was among the issues we were pursuing," Sondland will testify, according to his opening remarks.
Pompeo twice ignored questions about Sondland's testimony in Brussels, where he's meeting with NATO allies.
Sondland's 19-page opening statement — plus texts and emails not previously made public — is filled with new details and disclosures he omitted from both his over nine-hour closed-door deposition and a sworn declaration he made later. He will say his memory had been refreshed by other witnesses' testimony, but lawmakers are likely to grill Sondland over his failure to produce the information previously and whether his testimony can be trusted after changing so many times.
But the email and text records Sondland is providing to Congress on Wednesday may corroborate some of his new account.
In one email to Bolton on Aug. 26, Sondland sent him a contact card for Rudy Giuliani, the Trump personal lawyer who drove the push for investigations into the Bidens and 2016. That email came days before Bolton traveled to Ukraine, and Sondland plans to testify that "Bolton's office requested Mr. Giuliani's contact information."
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-impeachment-inquiry/sondland-testimony-targets-trump-pompeo-confirms-deal-ukraine-n1086541
2019-11-20 14:32:00Z
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Hong Kong bill passes US Senate as lawmakers aim to crack down on human rights violations - Fox News
The U.S. Senate on Tuesday unanimously passed a bill meant to protect human rights in Hong Kong as a recent escalation in violence rocks the now five-month protest against Chinese control over the semi-autonomous city.
HONG KONG SHOWDOWN: 100 PROTESTERS SURROUNDED BY POLICE AT UNIVERSITY
The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which was first introduced by Florida’s GOP Sen. Marco Rubio in June, gained support in recent days as police tightened their siege of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, where hundreds of young protesters remained holed up trying to evade arrest.
The university turned into a battleground as protesters, who used gasoline bombs and even bows and arrows, battled police backed by armored cars and water cannons. Hundreds were arrested before the six-day standoff came to a close.
“Today, the United States Senate sent a clear message to Hong Kongers fighting for their long-cherished freedoms: we hear you, we continue to stand with you, and we will not stand idly by as Beijing undermines your autonomy,” Rubio said. “The passage of this bill is an important step in holding accountable those Chinese and Hong Kong government officials responsible for Hong Kong’s eroding autonomy and human rights violations.”
China, which took control of the former British colony in 1997 and promised to let it retain its autonomy, has hardened its position and refused to make concessions to protesters. The movement began as a protest against an extradition bill, which would have allowed fugitives to be transported back to mainland China for trial before the Communist Party. It has steadily intensified into calls for greater autonomy and American-style democratic elections.
“With the situation in Hong Kong nearing a breaking point, this legislation will hopefully be a shot in the arm for the millions who have been patiently waiting for the United States to once again serve as a beacon of light and solidarity in their push to defend their basic rights and autonomy," New Jersey Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, who also sponsored the bill, said in a statement. "Hong Kong authorities must de-escalate this situation by taking the appropriate steps to address the democratic desires of the people of Hong Kong -- including forming an independent commission to investigate police violence."
The proposed legislation would require the U.S. Secretary of State to certify at least once a year that Hong Kong retains enough autonomy in order to receive special treatment from the U.S. regarding trade, which currently allows the city to thrive as a world financial hub, Reuters reported. The bill also says President Trump would need to impose sanctions against foreign officials who commit human rights violations against protesters. The executive branch would also develop a strategy on how to protect American citizens in Hong Kong from rendition or abduction to China, and report annually to Congress on violations of U.S. export controls laws and United Nations sanctions in Hong Kong.
Also on Tuesday, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the Protect Hong Kong Act, which would prohibit American companies from exporting crowd control munitions to Hong Kong police, the South China Morning Post also reported.
Beijing condemned the passage of the legislation in a statement slamming the U.S. for challenging China’s sovereignty over its territory, Reuters reported.
“This act neglects facts and truth, applies double standards and blatantly interferes in Hong Kong affairs and China’s other internal affairs,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said in a statement. “It is in serious violation of international law and basic norms governing international relations. China condemns and firmly opposes it.”
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The House of Representatives already passed a similar version of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act last month. Both chambers must settle their differences between the bills in committee before the legislation heads to Trump’s desk for approval.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/hong-kong-bill-senate-human-rights-protests
2019-11-20 12:23:41Z
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LIVE at 8:30 a.m. ET | Day 4 of public Trump impeachment hearings: Gordon Sondland set to testify - Washington Post
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTqe5RfuBhE
2019-11-20 13:26:06Z
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Israel carries out ‘wide-scale strikes’ on Iranian forces in Syria - BBC News
Israel says it has hit dozens of targets in Syria belonging to the government and allied Iranian forces.
The Israeli military says the "wide-scale strikes" responded to rockets fired by an Iranian unit into Israel.
Syria says two civilians died and that Syrian air defences shot down most of the missiles over Damascus. Other reports say the death toll was higher.
Local reports said loud explosions were heard in the capital. Pictures on social media showed a number of fires.
On Tuesday morning, the Israeli military said it had intercepted four rockets fired from Syria towards northern Israel. It said the rockets did not hit the ground.
Israel has carried out hundreds of strikes in Syria since the civil war broke out in 2011.
It has been trying to thwart what it calls Iran's "military entrenchment" there and block shipments of Iranian weapons to Lebanon's Hezbollah movement.
But the latest operation was one of the broadest attacks to date, says the BBC's Barbara Plett Usher in Jerusalem.
A senior Israeli security official said the Israelis had decided on a powerful retaliatory strike to signal they were "changing the rules" - that even a small attack from Syria would trigger an extensive response, our correspondent reports.
What did Israel say?
Early on Wednesday, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) tweeted that the strikes targeted positions of Iran's Quds Force and Syria's armed forces.
"During our strike of Iranian & Syrian terror targets, a Syrian air defence missile was fired despite clear warnings to refrain from such fire. As a result, a number of Syrian aerial defence batteries were destroyed," the IDF said.
The IDF also said it held "the Syrian regime responsible for the actions that take place in Syrian territory and warn them against allowing further attacks against Israel".
Iran's Quds Force is the external operations wing of the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC).
Israel did not target the Russian-made advanced S-300 surface-to-air missile systems deployed near the positions of Russian troops, Israeli media report.
Russia, whose forces have helped turned the tide of Syria's civil war in favour of President Bashar al-Assad, condemned the Israeli strikes.
What did Syria say?
Syria's state news agency Sana said that the country's "air defence confronted the heavy attack and intercepted the hostile missiles".
It said that Syria destroyed "most" of the Israeli missiles.
The news agency added that the strikes on Syrian territory were carried out from "Lebanese and Palestinian territories".
Israel has a number of times hit targets inside Syria from war planes in Lebanese airspace.
Danny Makki, a British-Syrian journalist based in Damascus, posted footage of what he said he believed were Israeli missiles hitting targets south of Damascus.
Syria said two civilians were killed in the Israeli strikes.
Meanwhile, a UK-based monitoring group, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), said that 11 fighters, including seven foreigners, died.
The SOHR said that the Israeli missiles hit sites in and around Damascus in Kiswa, Saasaa, Mezzeh military airport, Jdaidat Artouz, Qudsaya and Sahnaya.
And what about Iran?
The Iranian authorities have so far made no public comment.
What is the Quds Force?
The Quds (Jerusalem) Force answers directly to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamanei.
It is led by Maj Gen Qasem Soleimani, who is believed to be more than a mere military commander.
Since the US-led overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime in Iraq in 2003, the Quds Force has intensified its operations across the Middle East, providing training, funding and weapons to non-state groups allied to Tehran.
It has also developed forms of asymmetric warfare, such as swarm tactics, drone and cyber-attacks, that have allowed Iran to undermine its enemies' superiority in conventional weapons.
In April, US President Donald Trump designated the IRGC, including the Quds Force, a "foreign terrorist organisation" (FTO). It was the first time the US had named a part of another government as an FTO.
The Quds Forces has about 5,000 personnel, a recently published report by the US military says.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-50485521
2019-11-20 12:15:49Z
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